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Liberator 6.3
Feist
The Reminder
(Cherry Tree/Interscope)

On the Canadian chanteuses breakthrough Let It Die, the Broken Social Scene member hinted at the possibility of greatness. On her follow–up, The Reminder, she finds it. If she was an indie Norah Jones, she makes like a stepchild of Bjork, PJ Harvey and Chan Marshall -- evoking emotionally charged and at times folksy, swanky and loungey break up ballads. Opening with the heartbreaker ballad "So Sorry," her apologetic letter explains "I'm sorry/ two words I always think/ after you've gone/ when I realized I was acting all wrong." Then she pleads for the need to stay cool, "We don't need to say goodbye/ we don't need to fight and cry/ we, we could hold each tight tonight/ tonight/ tonight." Her voice soars as she sings with such verve as to send chills through your veins. The confessional, "I Feel It All," offers more clarity after the fact as she joyfully sings "Oh I'll be the one who'll breaks my heart/ I'll be the one to hope." Her feeling and desire for victory is on display as she croons, "I don't know what I knew before/ but know I want to win the win the war." The playful, faux disco romp of "My Moon My Man" with its sexy bass line, girl group coos' and pianos is the album's centerpiece and most accessible track. Feist warns "Take it slow, take it easy on me, shed some light." Beautiful, quieter moments like "The Park" and to at lesser degree, "Water," bring a seriousness that weighs on the record. On her spirited take "Sea Lion"-- complete with full-on, cheerful handclaps and twangy guitars -- her voice pierces through and she sings with such joy. But the twangy pop goes a bit bland on "Past In Present." On the bittersweet "The Limit To Your Love" she ponders, "Only I can save me." The nursery rhyme melody of "1234" is more of the playground playfulness that lifts the record. The powerful plea of "Honey Honey" with it's haunting background harmonies and string arrangements act as the album's emotional center. She closes with another gorgeous ballad "How My Heart Behaves" with Ron Sexsmith which have them singing "The cold heart will burst/the calm heart will break." Feist has truly arrived in fashion with conviction, passion and sense of originality of a true star.
(Jon Jon Scott)